Apple Park Construction Costs Detailed Analysis

As Apple prepares to move into its gleaming new Apple Park headquarters, the new analysis offers a glimpse into the construction costs for each of the buildings.

San Francisco-based contractor matching service BuildZoom analyzed all the publicly available building permits Apple has filed with the city of Cupertino. The total costs listed for the 15 structures built at Apple Park: $1,154,652,399.

Now, there are several caveats to consider here. BuildZoom notes that the costs listed on these permits are estimates provided for the purpose of paying fees, and real costs typically exceed those numbers. Indeed, Apple was originally scheduled to finish construction on the first phase of Apple Park late last year but said in September that it was beginning the move-in process this fall.

That number is also well below the $5 billion cost that Bloomberg reported several years ago, a figure that was never confirmed by the company. A BuildZoom spokesperson also noted that the construction costs represent only a portion of the overall cost of the project. Typically not included in permit estimates is work by the architects and engineers, the massive demolition of the old Hewlett-Packard buildings, furnishings for the buildings, and the cost of buying the land.

Not surprisingly, the main building tops the building permit list at $427,570,867, thanks in no small part to those 3,000 custom-made curved glass panes that cover the outside. The company also spent at least $15 million for its photovoltaic roof and almost $9 million for the two outdoor dining facilities.

The Steve Jobs Theater came in second, also not surprisingly, with $179,437,885 in permit estimates. And like many of the folks who got to visit it for the first time at Apple’s big iPhone event, the BuildZoom folks were in awe:

Creating the jewel is an architectural feat in itself. A lens-shaped carbon fiber roof rests on just four layers of curved glass — not a single column helps to support it. The roof itself is comprised of 44 radial panels which masterfully mask all electrical lines and sprinkler pipes within the silicone joints. A custom glass elevator uses ‘helical guide rails’ to spin the car as it descends. It’s no wonder that the lobby alone comes with a $12 million price tag.